Good morning warriors of the Lord!
SPIRITUAL WARFARE isn’t fighting with other people; it’s fighting against wicked spiritual forces. Ephesians 6:12 says,
- For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalaties, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against SPIRITUAL hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Jesus won the war against the kingdom of darkness by sacrificing His life for us. However, although the war has been won, Satan still attacks us because of who we are in Christ, but we don’t have to lose our individual battles with the enemy. We won’t be defeated when we remain steadfast in Jesus Christ and believe in the promises of God and all that Jesus has accomplished for us. Colossians 2:15 states,
- …having disarmed principalities and powers, He (Jesus) made an open show of them, triumphing over them in it.
Remember, the enemy always approaches us with deceitful strategies. His goal is to ruin our lives. In John 10:10 (NLT) Jesus said,
- The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.
We’re admonished by the Apostle Paul in Ephesians 6:11 (AMP) to,
- Put on God’s whole armor [the armor of a heavy-armed soldier which God supplies], that you may be able to successfully stand up against [all] the strategies and the deceits of the devil.
In these spiritual battles, we can trust and rely on our own human strength and ability; we have to rely on Jesus. In verse 10 of Ephesians 6, we’re told this:
- In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [be empowered through your union with Him]; draw your strength from Him [the strength which His boundless might provides].
Family, we draw our strength from Him, through our union with Him.
Be encouraged because 1 Peter 5:8 declares,
- Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.
According to this Scripture, the devil can’t devour everyone. He can’t devour those who are truly remaining steadfast in Jesus Christ, and what He has done to give us the victory.
Remember, when we’re weak (in our own strength), then we’re strong in His strength. Paul actually said in 2 Corinthians 12:9 (AMP),
- But He said to me, My grace (My favor and loving-kindness and mercy) is enough for you [sufficient against any danger and enables you to bear the trouble manfully]; for My strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and show themselves most effective in [your] weakness. Therefore, I will all the more gladly glory in my weaknesses and infirmities, that the strength and power of Christ (the Messiah) may rest (yes, may pitch a tent over and dwell) upon me!
I exhort you to learn to trust in Jesus’ strength, not in your own human ability and strength. The devil can only succeed in his strategies against us when we trust in our own human strength and abilities more than we trust God’s ability.
One last thing: I am reminded of the Scripture from 2 Timothy 2:3-4 which says,
- You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in WARFARE entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.
Love always,
Lisa Gordon
Assistant Pastor
Jesus City Church